Did you catch the picture I shared on Twitter last week? The one with the wild turkeys in the snowstorm. That’s right, proof I’m more than ready for some fun in the sun as we celebrated the 2nd weekend in April with yet *another 3″ of snow. Lucky me, Joe Cosentino is here to share sun, sand, sea, and salaciousness with book two in the Cozzi Cove series, COZZI COVE: MOVING FORWARD. It releases today, April 18 from NineStar Press.
COZZI COVE: MOVING FORWARD
by JOE COSENTINO available from NineStar Press
http://ninestarpress.com/product/cozzi-cove-moving-foreward/
and your favorite e-Retailer:
http://myBook.to/Cozzi_Cove_MF
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cozzi-cove-joe-cosentino/1123663661?ean=2940153184975
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-cozzicovemovingforward-2018883-149.html
We’ve had a lot of fun learning about Joe and his work over his series of guest posts, but today he has something special for us – an interview with Cal Cozzi, the leading character.
Ready to hear what Cal has to say?
I have with me today Cal Cozzi, the leading characters in Joe Cosentino’s second Cozzi Cove novel, Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward. Since the readers can’t see you, how about you tell them what you look like.
That’s me on the left of the cover.
Wow. Red hair, green eyes, and bronze skin. How did that happen?
Blame my Scottish and Italian ancestors.
Who’s next to you on the cover?
That’s Michael, my boyfriend. He lives with me in the main bungalow at Cozzi Cove.
How did you two guys meet?
In the town of Cozzi when Michael assaulted me.You’ll have to read about it in Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back.
Tell us about your background, Cal.
After college I dabbled as a professional football player then restaurant owner, but neither was a good fit. After my parents died in an automobile accident, I found mycalling, managing Cozzi Cove.
What is Cozzi Cove?
Cozzi is a New Jersey shore town named after my great-grandfather who built eight bungalows on a private cove called Cozzi Cove. He also made every stick of furniture in each bungalow by hand—each with a nautical theme. Each bungalow has an amazing view of the bay and lighthouse in the distance. The main beach and boardwalk are only a mile away. It’s a place I loved as a kid, and still love.
What’s a cove?
The bungalows on Cozzi Cove are set on a stretch of cove formed when softer rocks were worn away by the sun and salty water faster than the harder rocks surrounding them. This created a gorgeous bay of turquoise water shielded by large rocks in the distance and smaller rocks near the water’s edge.
How did Joe Cosentino think you up?
Joe’s family vacationed every summer at his aunt and uncle’s bungalow on the New Jersey Shore. He has terrific memories of swimming and making sandcastles at the beach, wading in the bay, playing miniature golf, eating salt water taffy, jumping up and down on trampolines, and eating at his family’s favorite seafood restaurant. All of those places are in the fictitious place Joe calls Cozzi Cove.
How was Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, received?
They liked us. They really liked us.
Good one.
After Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back released, many readers and reviewers praised its romantic, humorous, dramatic, mysterious style, and interwoven captivating stories.For example, TBR Pile wrote, “I loved this story. It carries you through the full range of emotions, from joy to sadness, from happiness to anger. The characters are beautifully written.” “I look forward to a return visit to the Cove.” SoJoe wrote Cozzi Cove: Moving Froward. As with the first book, romance is everywhere on Cozzi Cove, and nothing is what it seems.
Who are other characters in both books?
Connor, the college student assisting me, is packed with muscles and hormones. He revels in Cozzi Cove, and in checking out each resident for a possible fling on the cove. Michael works for my old friend Tommy Malone, a bald, muscular, tattooed resident of Cozzi Cove who owns the local bar.Carla Mangione runs Carla’s Seafood Restaurant. She hold a torch for my sister Taylor who drops in from Rome, Paris, Wall Street, or Palm Springs in each book. As a tough as nails top one-percenter, the world revolves around Taylor, which makes her hysterically funny. I also admire her devotion to me. Taylor is in for a huge surprise in this book.
Like in book one, book two is made up of interwoven stories about you and the guests in the seven bungalows.
Right. In this novel Rodney Maxwell and Dennis O’Halloran are a Tony Award winning actor and his estranged producer/husband with their two hired bodybuilder studs, Jarek and Zeus.Rodney and Dennis’ theatrical bantering makes me laugh. Jarek and Zeus are surprising sweet and touching. Not funny, sweet, or touching is Michael’s muscular study buddy from college, Carlo from Italy. Then there’s a new man of mystery, handsome George Valis?And computer analyst, Sam, enlists his best friend Chase in a scheme to attract Sam’s hunky, unsuspecting best friend, Raul. Hunter, a female gay romance novel enthusiast, wants to experience gay life off the page. And finally Gil Van Trurentries to end it all—until he sees a vision of his studlyfirst love from college.
What secrets, humor, tragedy, mysteries, and passions lie in the magical place called Cozzi Cove this summer?
You’ll have to read the book to find out.
What is the moral of the story?
Take a chance on love. As Michael and I did.
Did Joe pattern Cal after himself and Taylor after his sister?
A few traits here and there, but Joe and I are very different, though his sister is opinionated like Taylor.
You and Michaelgo through a rough patch as yourrelationship continues in this book, and you make a personal shocking discovery.
That’s Cozzi Cove, just when you think you’ve figured it out, there’s a game changer.
Will there be more Cozzi Cove novels?
I hope so. Otherwise I will get bored just taking up space in Joe’s brain.
Do you see Cozzi Cove as a movie or television series?
Joe wants to play Gil.
Who do you see playing you and Michael?
I could see Corbin Bleu as Michael. I’m not sure about me.
Maybe our readers can help.There are also a number of love scenes in the books, including for you. How did readers respond to those?
So far so good.
Tell us about Joe’s other gay romance releases.
An Infatuation and A Shooting Star (In My Heart bittersweet dreams novellas) published by Dreamspinner Press are loosely based on Joe’s high school and college years respectively. They were so popular as individual e-books, Dreamspinner Press published them together in one paperback. Joe still receives comments from readers that those stories made them laugh, cry, feel romantic, and changed their lives. An Infatuation won Second Place in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Poll Award for Best Romance of 2015.A Home for the Holidays is Joe’s popular holiday short novella from Dreamspinner Press about an American law student who, as Joe did, takes a trip to the romantic and gorgeous island of Capri, Italy, where he embarks on a relationship with his captivating third cousin.The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland from Dreamspinner Press is Joe’s gay take on my favorite beloved fairytales like Cinderella, Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, Pinocchio, Jack and the Beanstalk, and The Snow Queen.
Joe also has two mystery series as well.
Joe’s Nicky and Noah mystery series from Lethe Press are farcical, gay, cozy, who-dun-its. In Drama Queentheatre college professors are dropping like stage curtains. With the inept local detective more interested in getting into Nicky’s pants than solving the murders, it is up to well-endowed Directing professor, Nicky Abbondanza to use his theatre skills (including playing other people) to solve the case, while he directs a murder mystery onstage. Complicating matters is Nicky’s intense crush on Assistant Professor of Acting, gorgeous Noah Oliver, the prime suspect in the murder. Drama Queen(Divine Magazine’s Readers Poll Award for Best Mystery, Best Crime, Best Contemporary, and Best Humorous Novel of 2015) is available as an ebook, paperback, and audiobook performed by Michael Gilboe. It is often on Amazon’s bestseller’s list in its category. In Drama MuscleNicky and Noah have to use their theatre skills to find out why musclemen are dropping like weights in the Physical Education department while Nicky directs the Student Bodybuilding Competition. InDrama Cruise (releasing soon), Nicky and Noah go on a cruise to Alaska, and discover why college theatre professors are going overboard like lifeboats while Nicky directs a murder mystery dinner theatre show onboard ship.
In the Jana Lane mysteries, with straight leading characters and gay supporting characters, Jana Lane was the biggest child star ever until she was attacked on the studio lot at eighteen years old. In Paper Doll Jana at thirty-eight lives with her family in a mansion in picturesque Hudson Valley, New York. Her flashbacks from the past become murder attempts in her future. Forced to summon up the lost courage she had as a child, Jana ventures back to Hollywood, which helps her uncover a web of secrets about everyone she loves. She also embarks on a romance with the devilishly handsome son of her old producer, Rocco Cavoto. In Porcelain Doll (The Wild Rose Press), Jana makes a comeback film and uncovers who is being murdered on the set and why. Her heart is set aflutter by her incredibly gorgeous co-star, Jason Apollo. In Satin Doll (The Wild Rose Press), Jana and family head to Washington, DC, where Jana plays a US senator in a new film, and becomes embroiled in a murder and corruption at the senate chamber. She also embarks on a romance with Chris Bruno, the muscular detective. In China Doll (releasing late May from The Wild Rose Press), Jana heads to New York City to star in a Broadway play, enchanted by her gorgeous co-star Peter Stevens, and faced with murder on stage and off. Since the novels take place in the 1980’s, Jana’s best friends are gay, and Jana is somewhat of a gay activist, the AIDS epidemic is a large part of the novels.
But Michael and I aren’t in any of those books.
But you are both in Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back and Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward. Besides reading the Cozzi Cove novels, how can reders connect with you?
Joe loves hearing from readers. They can contact him at:http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com. He’ll tell me what they said. He tells me everything. And I in turn tell him things to write in the Cozzi Cove novels.So everybody grab your Speedos, suntan lotion, and shades and head back to Cozzi Cove. My welcome mat is out for you, and I hope to see you there!
COZZI COVE: MOVING FORWARD
by JOE COSENTINO from NineStar Press
http://ninestarpress.com/product/cozzi-cove-moving-foreward/
and your favorite e-Retailer:
http://myBook.to/Cozzi_Cove_MF
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cozzi-cove-joe-cosentino/1123663661?ean=2940153184975
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-cozzicovemovingforward-2018883-149.html
http://ninestarpress.com/product/cozzi-cove-moving-foreward/http://myBook.to/Cozzi_Cove_MFhttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cozzi-cove-joe-cosentino/1123663661?ean=2940153184975https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-cozzicovemovingforward-2018883-149.html
On Cozzi Cove at the New Jersey Shore, handsome Cal Cozzi’s seven bungalows are once again open for summer and love. The vacationers include Rodney Maxwell and Dennis O’Halloran, a Tony Award winning actor and his estranged producer/husband with their two hired studs, Jarek and Zeus. Computer analyst Sam enlists his best friend Chase in a scheme to attract hunky Raul. Middle aged Gil Van Truren wants to end it all—until he sees a vision of his first love. Cal also has his hands full with college student Michael—his new young lover—Michael’s study buddy Carlo, man of mystery George Valis, and Connor, the houseboy packed with muscles and a wondering sponge. All the while Hunter, a female gay romance novel enthusiast, experiences gay life off the page. What secrets, humor, tragedy, mysteries, and passions lie in the magical place called Cozzi Cove?
Praise for COZZI COVE: BOUNCING BACK, the first book in the Cozzi Cove series by Joe Cosentino:
“I loved this story. It carries you through the full range of emotions, from joy to sadness, from happiness to anger. The characters are beautifully written.” “I look forward to a return visit to the Cove.” TBR Pile
“Heartbreaking and heartwarming, sweet beginnings for some, sour endings for others, emotions jumping off the page as you turn eagerly to read more, welcome to Cozzi Cove. The author measured his scales to perfection in delivering the perfect balance of love, laughter and tears in this sexy, fun filled holiday romance entwined with some sadness. Summer magic waved it’s wand at all who visited and stayed at Cozzi Cove and I was one of those who wanted to stay.” Three Books Over the Rainbow
Praise for Joe Cosentino’s books:
“unbelievably beautiful” “a masterpiece” Lovebytes Reviews
“as Joe Cosentino proves time and time again, with his wonderful writing and storytelling ability, love will prevail, and you will smile from ear to ear.” Kathy Mac Reviews
“a master class in how to write short fiction (or any fiction). Joe Cosentino has provided a work that will leave you thinking and wanting to savor and re-read it again and again.” GGR Reviews
“Like an onion, Joe Cosentino’s stories have layers.” “For those readers looking for something a little bit different – dare I say unique? For those readers who like to laugh. For those readers who appreciate the nuances of people and the way each character is different. For those readers who want to read a damn good story – check out this author. I’m glad I did.” “A truly fabulous read.” Boy Meets Boy Reviews
“From the beginning I was enthralled and couldn’t wait to finish the book.” Inked Rainbow Reads
“This is polished prose at its best. Intelligent writing, a thought-provoking plot and characters befitting the theater genre” “one of my favorite reads this year.” Love’s Last Refuge Reviews
“Don’t miss this one friends, it is a heartfelt story magical in the telling! Thanks Joe for putting your heart on the page for us to savor!” Bike Book Reviews
“It’s unusual for me to get sucked into a book in the first chapter but it grabbed me early and I read the whole thing in one day”. Nautical Star Books
“There were times I laughed and then there were times I cried…unforgettable.” Multitaskingmomma Reviews
“I really loved this book and having an ending that made me laugh and cry at the same time is testament to the brilliant writing.” BooksLaidBareBoys
“The author executed his storyline with a marvelous precision that would be the envy of many authors. He draws the readers into the lives of his characters, they become real and in turn, their emotions becomes yours.” “If you can only afford to buy one more book this year, buy this one.” Three Books Over the Rainbow Reviews
About Joe:
Joe Cosentino is the author of An Infatuationand A Shooting Star(Dreamspinner Press), Paper Doll the first Jana Lane mystery (Whiskey Creek Press), Drama Queen the first Nicky and Noah mystery (Lethe Press), and The Nutcracker and the Mouse King(Eldridge Plays and Musicals). He has appeared in principal acting roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Holland Taylor, and Jason Robards. His one-act plays, Infatuation and Neighbor, were performed in New York City. He wrote The Perils of Pauline educational film (Prentice Hall Publishers). Joe is currently Head of the Department/Professor at a college in upstate New York, and is happily married. His upcoming novels are A Home for the Holidays (Dreamspinner Press holiday novella), The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland (Dreamspinner Press short stories novella), Porcelain Doll the second Jana Lane mystery (Wild Rose Press), and Drama Muscle the second Nicky and Noah mystery (Lethe Press).
Contact Joe:
Web site:http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JoeCosentinoauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeCosen
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4071647.Joe_Cosentino
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00KRPXJP6